Layer2 and Sharding: Different Paths to the Same Scaling Goal

IconCryptoNewsTerminal Staff23 May, 2024

cryptonews.jpg

Layer2 and Sharding: Different Paths to the Same Scaling Goal

Vitalik Buterin, the creator of Ethereum (ETH), recently explained on Twitter that the fundamental approaches of layer2 networks and sharding are identical in nature. This revelation challenges the common perception that these two scaling solutions are inherently at odds with each other. According to Buterin, both layer2 and sharding employ data sharding, fraud provers, ZK-SNARK verifiers, and cross-shard communication to achieve scalability. However, the key difference lies in the consequences of a coding error: while a bug in a layer2 rollup can result in lost coins, the same issue in a shard chain could lead to a consensus failure. Buterin further elaborated that the layer2 ecosystem operates akin to sharding, but with the added flexibility of creating shards with unique rules. This opens up opportunities for innovation and creativity within the layer2 space.

Related News